She bared her teeth. “If you were dying, you’d want someone to comfort you in your last moments. And fuck you for trying to make me feel bad for caring about someone enough to try and ease their pain.”
He smirked. “Didn’t think you capable of such harsh language, little lamb. Good to see you’ve finally grown some teeth.” He walked off and left Orelia fuming.
She grabbed a rock and prepared to throw it at him just as Vade was wrenched into the sky by his ankles. Another rope shot out from an iron anchor in the ground and wrapped around his wrists, stretching him from ground to sky. He hung upside down, completely defenseless.
Orelia tossed the rock aside and let out a wild laugh.
Vade twisted in the frayed ropes that looked like they’d been there for quite a while as weapons fell out of his belt in rapid succession. “Cut me out of these right now.”
She couldn’t stop laughing. “I don’t think so.”
“Orelia.” Vade spun as he tried to free his wrists, but the ropes held tight.
“I think I’ll leave you up there until you change your ways and start being nicer to those around you.”
“This isn’t a game. Cut me down right now.”
“Show me some manners, and I might.” She sat on a boulder and watched him uselessly try to get free, enjoying the sight of his face turning red as frustration and blood flow took over.
“All you have to do is agree to be nice and I’ll cut you free,” she teased.
“Stop fucking around. Use your brain for once and come get me out!”
Her smile dropped. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be smart and listen to me.”
“Don’t talk to me like I’m a child. You can hang up there all night now for all I care.” She crossed her arms, enjoying every bit of the futility of his efforts.
“Gods-dammit, witch . . .” Vade grumbled. After thrashing some more, furious eyes met hers, then blew wide. “Duck!”
Orelia dropped to the ground as a burst of wind blew her hair in front of her face and something grazed her pack. She looked to the sky, seeing a massive eagle bank left, preparing to come for her again.
“Cut me down, now!”
Orelia grabbed Vade’s sword off the ground and got into a fighting stance. She narrowly missed the enormous bird reaching for her with its brutish talons.
The eagle whooshed past, squawking loud enough to make her wince.
“Orelia!”
With a mighty sweep, she severed the rope above Vade’s feet. His wings couldn’t snap out fast enough before he hit the ground.
Orelia spun to get eyes back on the bird when she was tackled from behind. Vade covered her body with his, black wings sheltering them both in darkness.
Another squawk pierced the air, and seconds later, the two of them were dragged backward across the forest floor. She gripped thesword tight, the fingers of her other hand raking across the ground as she tried to find something to grab onto, her nails chipping and splitting.
Vade let out an agonized groan as they slid across the leaves. When they finally stopped moving, he grunted in her ear. “Fucking gods . . .”
Orelia twisted her neck the best she could. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
Vade pulled her up and pushed her in front of him. “Run! Now!”
She barely caught herself in time to not fall. “Where?”
“Anywhere! I’m going back for my axe!” Vade ran for his weapon, and she scanned the sky for the eagle, but the thick palms blocked her view.
Orelia ran, knowing he’d be able to catch up at lightning speed. Her pack beat against her back with each stride as she flew through the forest. With how much walking they’d done the past couple weeks, her legs were stronger and able to adapt much easier to the exertion.
